Sparkling wine in Italy

Question 1

Sparkling wine in Italy

Main italian sparkling wine regions

Answer 1

• Prosecco
• Asti
• Lambrusco
• Trentodoc
• Franciacorta

Italy overtook France as the largest exporter of sparkling wine by volume in 2009 thanks to sales of Prosecco worldwide.
France remain large exporter by value

Question 2

Sparkling wine in Italy

Two main italian sparkling sectors:

Answer 2

Tank method:
- great majority of italian sparkling (half of it is Prosecco)
- Developed in 1880’s in Italy
- Named after Martinotti / refined by Charmat
- Prosecco and Lambrusco / Asti uses a variation on this method
- Classification depending on level of pressure: spumante (min 3 bars) / frizzante (1-2.5 bars)

Traditional method:
- Entire production is the equivalent of 4% of Prosecco / one-tenth of the size of Champagne production
- Franciacorta = 18 million bottles
- Trentodoc = just over 9 million